Portable refreshment server



21, 1967 c. s. EDWARDS 3,353,717

' PORTABLE REFRESHMENT SERVER Filed Feb. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. CLARK S. EDWARDS 3,353,717 PORTABLE REFRESHMENT SERVER ClarkS. Edwards, 1933 Sutter St., San Francisco, Calif. 94115 Filed Feb. 16,1966, Ser. No. 527,814 9 Gaiters. (Cl. 222-132) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A portable refreshment serving apparatus having a centrallylocated enclosure which houses and supports a plurality of containersthat are each equipped with a dispensing mechanism; a tray revolvable ona base, supporting the enclosure and condiment containers; and means fordetachably supporting refreshment cups adjacent the outer surface of thecentrally located enclosure.

The object of this invention is to provide a refreshment server fromwhich a selection of different beverages may be dispensed, and whichencompasses drinking vessels and containers for ice and cocktailaccessories, yet is of simple and compact construction so that it iseasy to carry and may be conveniently used at home, in the ofiice or atpicnics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a composite refreshmentserver, of the type referred, that may readily be disassembled into aunit from which a selection of different beverages may be served andinto a tray in the form of a lazy susan for serving relishes andcocktail accessories.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment thereof and wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective of arefreshment server embodying my invention, in assembled form;

FEGURE 2 is a plan view of the refreshment server;

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical section through the refreshment server;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a fragmentary sectionthrough the top of the beverage server; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the area illustrated inFIGURE 4.

The refreshment server of my invention comprises a tray which may be ofrectangular shape as shown. The side walls 12 of the tray aretransversely spaced double walls to form open channels 14 of U-shapedcontour along the periphery of the tray. During use the channels 112 maybe filled with ice cubes to keep the edibles fresh that may be servedfrom the tray. At its center the tray 1% is pivotally supported upon aflat base 16 of a heavy material, such as cast iron so that it may formwhat is known as a lazy susan (FIGURE 3). For reasons of compactness theupper surface of the base 16 is of domed or convex contour as shown at20, and the bottom 22 of the tray is of a correspondingly concaveformation.

In assembled form a cylindrical enclosure 24 of metal or plasticmaterial is placed coaXia-lly upon the tray 10. Said enclosure has aslightly domed top 26, and is open at the bottom. To secure theenclosure 24 detachably to fhe tray 10 so that both the enclosure andthe tray may be carried as a unit, the top 26 of the enclosure carriesrigidly secured thereto a tubular column 28 which extends coaxiallywithin the enclosure downwardly to a level slightly above the level ofits bottom edge. Received within the tubular column 28 and protrudingabove the top 26 of the enclosure 24 through an aperture 29 of a size toprovide a sliding fit, is a rod 30. The upwardly projecting end of saidrod is provided with a handle in the form of a cross nit States Patent G3,353,717 Patented Nov. 21, I967 bar 32. A short distance below the top26 of enclosure 24 the rod carries rigidly secured thereto :a disk orcollar 34 of such a diameter as to provide a sliding fit with thecylindrical inner surface of the column 2.8. The bottom end of the rodis threaded, as shown at 36, and may threadably be engaged with aninternally threaded bushing 38 that is seated in the center of the floorof the tray 10 and may form an integral part thereof. By turning thehandle 32 of rod 30 so that the threaded end thereof engages the bushing38, the enclosure 24 may be secured to and held above the tray 10 inproperly centered position so that both the enclosure and the tray maybe carried as a unit by an arched handle 40 that extends across theenclosure and is pivotally connected to its cylindrical side wall atdiametrically opposite points thereof.

In assembled form the refreshment server encompasses four cylindricalbeverage containers 42 (FIGURES 2 and 3) that are arranged within theannular space between the wall of the enclosure and the tubular column28, and which are detachably supported from the top of the enclosure.For this purpose the closed tops of the containers may be provided withpointed studs 44 (FIGURE 4) in which are formed annular necks 46. Whensaid studs are pushed through suitable apertures 48 in the top of theenclosure they are automatically engaged and retained by crossed springarms 49 that are secured to the top of the enclosure and extend acrossthe apertures 48 (FIGURE 5).

Each of the beverage containers is provided with a dispensing mechanism50 that protrudes through and above the top 26 of the enclosure so thatthe beverages in the containers 42 may be dispensed without thenecessity of removing the containers from the enclosure. Having againreference to FIGURE 4, the top of each container is provided with anaperture which is detachably plugged by a stopper 52 through whichpasses the dispensing column 54 of the dispensing mechanism 50. Saidcolumn extends upwardly through a registering aperture in the ceiling 26of the enclosure and carries above said ceiling a dispensing spout 56which may be of conventional design.

Arranged around the outer surface of the enclosure at suitable intervalsare loops 58 for the reception of drinking cups 60; and brackets 62 maybe provided at suitable areas of the outer surface of the enclosure forthe support of bottles 64 which contain such cocktail ingredients asfruit juices, grenadine or hitters. Upon the bottom of the tray in thespace between its rim 12 and the outer surface of the enclosure 24, aresupported four bowls 68, such as are used to serve relishes, cocktailcherries, nuts and the like. These bowls are preferably constructed tohave a concave inner wall 76 arranged to conform with the outer surfaceof the enclosure and may otherwise have the shape of a rectangulartriangle to fit into and be held in the four corners of the tray 10 whenthe latter is used as a lazy susan.

In assembled form the refreshment server of my invention takes uprelatively little space and may readily be carried by a single person,although it offers a selection of four different beverages andencompasses drinking cups, relish bowls, bottles for cocktail admixturesand a serving tray of the lazy susan type including space for ice cubes.At its place of use the refreshment server of the invention may readiblybe disassembled so that its component parts may serve their intendedseparate functions. It is merely necessary to turn the handle 32. so asto disengage the threaded bottom portion 36 of the rod 30 from thebushing 38 in the center of the tray. The user then lifts the rod 30 bythe handle 32 until the collar 34 comes against the bottom of theceiling 26 whereupon the enclosure 22 with the beverage containers 42held therein may readily be lifted from the tray 10 and be deposited atany suitable place nearby. The free tray now constitutes a lazy susanwith the bowls tiii in its corners providing four compartments and acenter space for ice cubes, which may be rotated into any desiredposition on its base 16. The cups 60 may be lifted from the supportingloops 58 and may be filled with any one of the four available beveragesby operating the proper one of the dispensing spouts 56. T he bottles 64may be taken from the brackets 62 to add desired flavors to the drinks.If it is necessary to replenish the contents of one of the containers,all that is required is to squeeze the free ends of the spring arms 49on the top 26 of enclosure 24- above the particular container, whichreleases the container whereupon it may be Withdrawn through the openbottom of the enclosure while its dispensing mechanism 50 is left inposition in the top wall of the enclosure. It is equally simple toreposition a replenished container within the enclosure.

While I have explained my invention with the aid of a particularembodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific constructional details shown and described byway of example, which may be departed from Without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A refreshment server comprising an enclosure having a closed top andan open bottom, a tube secured to and depending from said top withinsaid enclosure, a number of containers arranged around said tube withinsaid enclosure, each having a dispensing mechanism arranged to protrudethrough said enclosure top, releasable means supporting said containerswithin said enclosure, a tray disposed below said enclosure, a basearranged below said tray, means pivotally supporting said tray upon saidbase, and means disposed in said tube and protruding above saidenclosure top for detachably securing said enclosure to said tray andfor lifting said enclosure including said containers from said tray upondetachment thereof.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure lifting meansis a rod disposed within said tube and arranged to protrude through saidenclosure top, and includes a handle mounted upon the protruding end ofsaid rod and a disc secured to said rod Within said tube below said top.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said means for detachablysecuring said enclosure to said tray is a rod disposed within said tubeand arranged to protrude through said enclosure top and includes ahandle mounted upon the protruding end of said rod, a disc secured tosaid rod within said tube below said enclosure top and screw meansarranged in the center of said tray, said rod having a threaded bottomportion threadably engageable with said bushing.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing mechanismsare detachable from said containers and are secured to said enclosuretop and include dispensing spouts arranged above said enclosure top.

5. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the side walls of said trayare formed by channels of U-shaped cross section.

6. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the bottom of said tray isconcave, and the top surface of said base is convex.

TArrangement according to claim 1 including a bowl of substantiallytriangular shape supported upon said tray in the space between its rimand the outer surface of said enclosure, the inner wall of said bowlbeing of a concave curvature arranged to conform to the outer surface ofsaid enclosure.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1 including means for detachablyholding a cup adjacent the outer surface of said enclosure.

9. Arrangement according to claim 1 including bracket means fordetachably supporting a bottle adjacent the outer surface of saidenclosure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,092 10/1934 Scurlock 211771,996,300 4/1935 Lindsay 21l-'74 X 2,302,186 11/1942 Caretto 22023.4 XR3,054,509 9/1962 Burger 211-71 3,302,831 2/1967 Matheney 222-132 XR ROYD. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

KLAAS I. VVINGERT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A REFRESHMENT SERVER COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A CLOSED TOP ANDAN OPEN BOTTOM, A TUBE SECURED TO AND DEPENDING FROM SAID TOP WITHINSAID ENCLOSURE, A NUMBER OF CONTAINERS ARRANGED AROUND SAID TUBE WITHINSAID ENCLOSURE, EACH HAVING A DISPENSING MECHANISM ARRANGED TO PROTRUDETHROUGH SAID ENCLOSURE TOP, RELEASABLE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINERSWITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, A TRAY DISPOSED BELOW SAID ENCLOSURE, A BASEARRANGED BELOW SAID TRAY, MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID TRAY UPON SAIDBASE, AND MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID TUBE AND PROTRUDING ABOVE SAIDENCLOSURE TOP FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID ENCLOSURE TO SAID TRAY ANDFOR LIFTING SAID ENCLOSURE INCLUDING SAID CONTAINERS FROM SAID TRAY UPONDETACHMENT THEREOF.